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News note

The Japanese Government helps 8000 children in Congo fulfill their right to education through the grant of $6.6 million

BRAZZAVILLE, 20 June, 2011 – ‘More than 8000 children excluded from the formal school system will have access to basic education programs thanks to USD $6.6 million (529 million Yens) granted by the Japanese Government’ says Marianne Flach, UNICEF Country Representative in the Republic of Congo.

The First Secretary of the Japan Embassy, the Resident Representative of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Country Representative of UNICEF in Congo exchanged notes and signed a new grant agreement for the improvement of education in Congo, in the presence of the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education and Literacy, on the 20th of June, 2011.

The project is amongst the first projects to be approved by the Government of Japan, after the country was struck by a powerful earthquake and a tsunami.The funding granted today through this three year-long project (2011-2013) focuses especially on those children excluded from the formal school system through the following actions:

Construction and equipment of 36 early childhood development centers (ECD) to promote the development of children under five years old.

The rehabilitation and equipment of 18 re-schooling centers to offer access to basic education to children excluded of the formal school system.

The project’s strategy is based on community participation. It seeks to reinforce community skills to manage infrastructure and to ensure the durability of a proper school environment for children. Japan’s support will enable local communities and religious associations to implement parental education on health care in early childhood, sensitization of best practices related to hygiene, nutrition and HIV/AIDS.

‘The courage of Japanese people to address this tragedy and their continuous commitment for the development of African countries despite of their own reconstruction challenges are a great example of humanity’ declared Mrs Flach.

About UNICEFUNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. For more information about UNICEF and its work visit: www.unicef.org